Case of the December Blues Series - Saturday Night Live Music in St. Charles

The Winter Blues have settled in for some, and if your seasonal gloominess is rearing its ugly head, we’ve got the cure: LIVE MUSIC. More specifically….THE BLUES!

Join us every Saturday in December for our Case of the December Blues Series, showcasing blue artists from the Chicagoland area, paired up with a different food truck each week.

Food starts around 5pm, with music starting at 6pm each week.

CASE OF THE DECEMBER BLUES SERIES LINEUP:

December 6:
Music: Tom Holland
Food: Chuck’s Wood-Fired Pizza

December 13:
Music: Matt Keen
Food: Biker Dude Burger

December 20:
Music: Brian Kleidon
Food: Indaba USA South African Cuisine

December 27:
Music: the Legendary Keith Scott!
Food: Uncle Cam’s Sandwiches

Poster for Riverlands Case of the December Blues Music Series!

Our First FoBAB Medal: What It Means to Us, and FOR YOU.

Hello River Rascals,

This past weekend capped off a pretty great award season for Riverlands Brewing Co.  After bringing home medals at the US Beer Open and the Great American Beer Festival, we even more recently took home a Bronze at the Festival of Wood & Barrel Aged Beer (FoBAB) for our latest barrel aged imperial stout release, Tranquil 2025.

Tranquil 2025, Bronze Medal Winner at the Festival of Wood & Barrel Aged Beers in Chicago, Illinois. On sale now at brewery in St. Charles!

Each of the medals we've won means something special, but this FoBAB medal might be my favorite of all.  I remember first attending the festival back 10 years ago in 2015.  The highlight that year for me was getting multiple pours of Goose Island Bourbon County Vanilla Rye, which I believe had just been released the year prior and was tasting amazing a year later.  I want to say one of the big winners that year was Spiteful Brewing’s Malevolence Chocolate Caliente, which was one of my favorites of the day as well as being my intro to spicy stouts. 

At this point 10 years ago, I was an avid homebrewer, but not in my wildest dreams would I have guessed I'd be there one day seeing my beer poured.  Even then, 10 years ago, I knew FoBAB was special, and that some of the best breweries not only in Chicagoland, but also nationwide, bring their best of the best beers.  These were the beers that brewers poured their love and creativity into, beers that sat in casks, often for years, waiting for their special moment to shine and be enjoyed.  There were so many amazing beers I tried that day, and FoBAB is like that year after year. 

Fast forward 10 years and my Saturday session of FoBAB ended much the same way as that first one a decade prior, having more beer at a brewery that I definitely didn't need given all the stout I tried at the fest, followed by a rough Sunday.  The two key differences were that the brewery I was at this time was my own, and that we were celebrating a Bronze medal win, our first ever award at FoBAB.  So many breweries I have so much respect and admiration for have won medals at this fest, both this year and in years prior, and many of them have influenced my own beer.  Thanks to all my friends in the industry who have enabled us to reach a level where winning a medal in this festival is even possible. 

And…thank you, River Rascals, for enthusiastically buying the beer we produce that enables us to keep this train rolling. 

Assistant Brewer Brianna Levi and Head Brewer/Co-Founder Eric Bramwell at FoBAB 2025.

As Black Friday approaches, we look forward to the true start of Stout Season heralded in by the Bourbon County annual lineup.  We've made Black Friday a tradition at Riverlands as well, releasing some of the stouts we are most proud of.  In addition to still having Tranquil 2025 still in stock, we'll be releasing Lord of the Riverlands, a beer aged 2 years in 1792 Bourbon casks, in addition to American Medium Toasted Oak inserts by our friends at Creative Oak.  The star of the show is that we conditioned this stout on two pounds of coconut, both toasted and raw, per gallon of liquid.  This will by far be the most coconut forward stout we've done, a rich and decadent stout to fit the season.

We can't wait for you to try Lord of the Riverlands, available both on tap and in 500ml bottles to-go at noon on 11/28, as we continue our line of, now, award-winning barrel aged beers. Cheers, and we hope to see you at our brewery in St. Charles this holiday season.

Eric Bramwell
Head Brewer/Co-Owner
Riverlands Brewing Company

November Friday Night Bluegrass Series!

Join us every Friday evening in November for LIVE BLUEGRASS at your local, hometown brewery! Music runs every week from 6pm to 9pm, paired up with a different food truck to keep your palate just as stimulated as your ears!

THE LINEUP:

Nov 7:
Tony John & the Flatland Stringband
w/ the Waffadilla Food Truck!

Nov 14:
Stryder
w/ Dark Horse Grill

Nov 21:
Fox Crossing Stringband
w/ Chuck’s Wood Fired Pizza

Nov 28: BLACK FRIDAY
Big Sky Acoustic Duo
w/ Uncle Cam’s Sandwiches

November Friday Night Bluegrass Series featuring live bluegrass music and a different food truck each week!

Three New Beers to Help You Beat the Heat this Week! (6/26)

Summer has made itself very well known around here recently, so we’re dropping three beers that will help you beat the heat!

1. Salty Fox: White Sangria!

We brewed up a German Gose-Style sour ale and fruited it with white grapes, orange, lemon, lime, and Mediterranean Sea Salt! Salt in your Sangria?! You bet, and you’ll thank us as you keep taking sip after satisfying sip! Plus, it’s just 4% ABV, so you’ll feel like filling a pitcher and sharing with some friends!

A can and pour of Salty Fox: White Sangria Gose-Style Sour Ale

2. Rio de Vaso Mexican-Style Dark Lager!

Brewed in collaboration with our friends at the Iron&Glass taprooms, this dark lager does a balancing act between full flavor and high drinkability. Malty and smooth, yet light bodied and easy to put down, this beer is fantastic for summer drinking. And at 5% ABV, it won’t slow you down early in the day.

3. River Life Pale Lager!

One of our most popular light drinking beers, River Life is your every day beer for doing chores, mowing lawns, lazy river days, and quenching that mid-day thirst. At just 4.8% ABV, it invites another can when you finish your last one.

A can and pour of River Life Pale Lager.

Introducing: Naiad's Pride Berliner Weiss - 6/1 Release

Naiad’s Pride, a berliner weiss with dragon fruit, pine apple, and peach, releases on Sunday, June 1st, at noon supporting BEYONG Fox Valley.

When we opened our brewery over six years ago, one of our driving forces was creating a space for our entire community where EVERYONE felt welcome. A place where folks from our hometown of St. Charles and surrounding communities could gather, share a beer, and enjoy our space without fear of ridicule or judgement.

Naiad’s Pride, a new fruited berliner weiss (a type of German-style sour wheat ale) fruited with dragon fruit, pineapple, and peach, hits the taps and to-go cooler at noon on Sunday, June 1, in celebration of Pride Month. Join us for live music by Nicole Devine and Teddy D’s Food Truck as well!

We brewed this beer in partnership with BELONG Fox Valley, a local non-profit organization dedicated to creating an inclusive space for the LGBTQIA+ community in the Fox Valley area. A portion of the proceeds from this beer will go directly to BELONG.

You can also help BELONG directly on Monday, June 23, during our Music Bingo Monday Fundraiser! Every Monday, we play music bingo from 6pm to 8pm with a limit of ONE CARD per person. But for this special event, players can receive a bonus music bingo card with any donation of cash or items they’ve requested for their events, such as:

• Capri Sun Packs

• Snack Bags of Chips, Doritos, etc

• Dominos PIzza Gift Cards

Be sure to present your donation to our host to receive your bonus music bingo card!

At Riverlands, we choose to see beyond political parties, religious affiliations, and divisive rhetoric to see the good in every person who walks into our brewery. It’s simple, really. Treat others as you wish to be treated. We welcome all who share this belief and want to raise a pint with their neighbors, friends, and families.

Sunday Sessions Return for Summer 2025

Sunday Sessions, our live music and local food showcase every Sunday afternoon at our St. Charles brewery!

With patio season upon us and our new shade sails going up, it’s time to fill your Sunday afternoons with local live music, food trucks, and, of course, St. Charles’ favorite beers. It’s time for SUNDAY SESSIONS.

All dates, time, menus, and musicians subject to change.

Check out your summer 2025 lineup:

May 11 - Mother’s Day Brunch
11am: Le Truff Noir Elevated Comfort Food
12pm: Joey Wilbur Live

May 18
12pm: Stadium Street Eats food truck
1pm: Live Music by Joey Wilbur
Plus, TURTLE RACES at 2pm!

May 25
12pm: TamalesPlus food trolley
1pm: Live Music by Noah James Hittner

June 1
12pm: Food by Teddy D’s food truck
1pm: Live Music by Nicole Devine

June 8
12pm: Food by Fernando’s Street Kitchen
1pm: Live Music by PennyLuck

June 15 - Father’s Day!
12pm: Food by Cousins Maine Lobster
1pm: Live Music by Kristin Rose Kelly

June 22
12pm: Food by Stouts BBQ
1pm: Live Music by John Boda

June 29
12pm: Food by Waffadilla food truck
1pm: Live Music by Seth Mercer

July 6
12pm: Food by Dark Horse Grill
1pm: Live Music by Jim Gruden

July 13
12pm: Food by the Curious Crow
1pm: Live Music by Flatlands Bluegrass Duo

July 20
12pm: Food by Lalos BBQ
1pm: Live Music by Downhillers Acoustic Harmony Band

July 27
12pm: Food by Potates JUMBO Stuffed Baked Potatoes
1pm: Live Music by Shea Marie

Aug 3
12pm: Food by Flyin’ Hawaiian food truck
1pm: Live Music by Jason Benefield

Aug 10
12pm: Food by Xpress Burrito
1pm: Live Music by Nick Olson

Aug 17
12pm: Food by Potates JUMBO Stuffed Baked Potatoes
1pm: Live Music by Nicole Devine

Aug 24
12pm: Food by Good Omen Gyoza
1pm: Live Music by Matt Petkovich

Aug 31
12pm: Food by Sizz & Fizz food truck
1pm: Live Music by the Old Fashioneds

Sept 7
12pm: TamalesPlus
BRICKS OF HOPE LEGO DONATION DRIVE AND FREE-BUILD!

Sept 14
12pm: Food by Cousins Maine Lobster
1pm: Live Music by Justin Moyar

Sept 21
12pm: Food by Waffadilla
2pm: TURTLE RACES supporting Hickory Knolls Discovery Center

Sept 28
12pm: Food by Steamboat BBQ
1pm: Live Music by Matt Nanke

Our 2025 Winter Bluegrass Series Begins - Live Music in St. Charles

The Rusken Bros, one of five bluegrass bands playing as part of our Winter Bluegrass Series on Saturdays starting in February.

Beat the winter blues with some righteous BLUEGRASS as we kick off our 2025 Winter Bluegrass Series this February!

Five weeks of live bluegrass in St. Charles are heading your way with different food trucks each week as well. Check out the lineup below and save the dates on your calendar!

Food starts at 5pm and music at 6pm.

THE LINEUP:

FEBRUARY 1:
Lucky Pickers with Chuck’s Wood Fired Pizza

FEBRUARY 8:
Wheels North Duo with Biker Dude Burgers

FERUARY 15:
Miles Over Mountains with Dark Horse Grill

FERBRUARY 22:
Fox Crossing Stringband with TamalesPlus

MARCH 1:
Rusken Bros. with Chuck’s Wood Fired Pizza

Check out our events page for details on the bands and other upcoming food trucks and live music events!

Oktoberfest in St. Charles at Riverlands Brewing Company - 2024

Our annual Oktoberfest celebration has become a tradition among friends, family, and guests at our St. Charles brewery. This year’s party not only continues that tradition, but builds upon it to create an even GRANDER TIME FOR ALL.

Two days of German-style good times await on Saturday and Sunday, September 28 & 29. Three different bands, incredible German food, and stein-fuls of our traditional Scarecrows in Lederhosen Marzen and Fox Fest Festbier make this the only place to be for all your Oktoberfest fun this fall.

Check out each day’s lineup and come BACK for maximum effect!

DAY ONE - Saturday Sept 28

Steinholding competitions throughout the afternoon, lederhosen as far as the eye can see, and YOU!

𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬: 12pm
𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝: Strawberries BBQ from 12pm to 8pm or sellout
𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜:
2-5pm - 13 Days
6-9pm - Fritz & the Pretzel Twists

DAY TWO - Sunday Sept 29

𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬: 12pm
𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝: Fernando’s Oktoberfest Kitchen - 12pm to sellout
𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜: Beer & Loathing - 1pm to 4pm
PLUS: Open Mic Night - 6pm to 9pm